Frontiersman101 - Posted - 07/26/2012:  22:48:52

Edited!

Who makes quality strings for a good prices?

Edited by - Frontiersman101 on 07/27/2012 16:19:00

RG - Posted - 07/27/2012:  01:40:22

Chris Sands' strings are the best I've used...I like the heavies...have tried nylgut's on a number of banjos, but have never liked them on any...

John Gribble - Posted - 07/27/2012:  02:55:44

Boy. Favorite strings. A nightmare question. I honestly think you have to experiment, take notes even,  and discover what works best for you and your particular instrument. 

My only suggestion is when you try new stings, leave them on for a week or two minimum. Give them a chance to settle in and stretch and for you to get used to them. Sometimes you need to tinker with head tension and other setup issues to find the right combination.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 07/27/2012:  06:06:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by John Gribble

Boy. Favorite strings. A nightmare question. I honestly think you have to experiment, take notes even,  and discover what works best for you and your particular instrument. 

My only suggestion is when you try new stings, leave them on for a week or two minimum. Give them a chance to settle in and stretch and for you to get used to them. Sometimes you need to tinker with head tension and other setup issues to find the right combination.

---

That is so true! I put Nylguts on a half dozen banjos. Some worked perfectly right away - others needed considerable tweaking of the set up to get the right sound. (And by "considerable tweaking" I mean weeks of experimenting.)

Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 07/27/2012 06:09:27

Frontiersman101 - Posted - 07/27/2012:  07:08:24

I am not asking about favorite strings. I am asking who makes quality strings for a good price.

stevel - Posted - 07/27/2012:  07:14:36

well, i doubt anyone really likes crappy quality synthetic strings.....

Frontiersman101 - Posted - 07/27/2012:  07:29:49

I would hope not. I know I don't crappy ones on my banjo. That is why I am asking so I can avoid buying crappy strings.

stevel - Posted - 07/27/2012:  07:41:25

well, then you already got your answer, even if you didn't like the way they worded their responses. Chris Sands or NylGuts are generally two of the more favored synthetic sets out there. both are reasonably priced.

good luck.

mbanza - Posted - 07/27/2012:  07:51:02

I put together my own custom sets using singles from here:

stringsbymail.com/store/search...on+single

OldTimeGal - Posted - 07/27/2012:  08:38:09

I'm currently trying out Aquila's New Nylgut Classic Banjo strings, size medium. Like them so far, holding up well.

OldTimeGal - Posted - 07/27/2012:  08:39:00

I'm currently trying out Aquila's New Nylgut Classic Banjo strings, size medium. Like them so far, holding up well.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 07/27/2012:  09:23:29

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frontiersman101

I am not asking about favorite strings. I am asking who makes quality strings for a good price.

---

That's funny, your question specifically asked "What do you guys think are the best nylgut or nylon strings on the market today?" It didn't say anything about "who makes quality strings for a good price?"

If you don't like the answers, maybe you should have been more clear in your question.

Frontiersman101 - Posted - 07/27/2012:  12:15:16

Your right. What I should really do is not ask questions while tired, because I thought I asked a different question.

shannonhearne - Posted - 07/27/2012:  12:50:11

I cast my "vote" for Chris Sands nylon strings.

I much prefer them to Nylgut.

---shannon

bhniko - Posted - 07/27/2012:  15:47:10

I am using Aquila's New Nylgut Classic Banjo strings, size medium and am also very pleased. I have not tried Chris's strings and it might be worth the few small bucks for you to try both. The Aquilas do stretch quite a bit before settling in.

BanjoCrafter - Posted - 07/27/2012:  19:15:08

I like D'Addario Pro-Arte Classical Guitar EJ46 Hard Tension strings. They are easily found and usually run about $8 and change. Then I buy a single string that is the same size as the 1st string to use for the fifth string.

mbuk06 - Posted - 07/27/2012:  23:02:07

...can I ask without hijacking the thread what are differences between the Chris Sands strings and Nylgut? I have Nylgut on my fretless and Aquila Classic strings on my other vintage calf-skin head banjo but have never tried the Sands. But I notice a lot of recommendations for them.

RG - Posted - 07/28/2012:  00:26:43

The Sand's strings are much more versatile...being nylon they handle low tunings fine while also being able to be tuned up to A and D if you want to jam with fiddlers...they don't need a lot of break-in period, they are not prone to breaking and they hold tune very well...plus, I much prefer the tone they produce versus Nylgut which have honestly never sounded good on any banjo I've used them on...

Edited by - RG on 07/28/2012 00:29:42

chadp - Posted - 07/28/2012:  07:34:17

If you want sets of Nylguts for cheap, PM me for my guy's email address. $5.99USD a set for aquilas, plus like 1 dollar for shippng. i buy 5 sets at a time from him

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 07/28/2012:  16:28:32

I'm a Chris Sands user. I find Nylguts simply don't work well for me and are constantly breaking or coming unwound. La-Bellas are far to rubbery. I think they are designed for people who tune about 2 whole tones high - and no, I don't know anyone who tunes that way.

I use Chris Sands Heavy for my avatar banjo (Jackie-O) which I tune a tone and a half below concert pitch (eBEG#B). I used to tune it to concert pitch and used the Chris Sands Mediums.

I used to be able to post Jackie's full picture in my posts but I can't figure out the new way to do it. You'll find pictures of her on my homepage. Simply click on my name above the Avatar - which is Jackie's peghead. I can't remember which gauge I had on her when I took the picture.

OldTimeGal - Posted - 07/28/2012:  17:56:39

I'm using the Aquila New Nylguts, and have had no problems at all with them breaking or becoming unwound, they've held up very well.  I've seen a lot of recommendations for the Chris Sands as well, so may explore and try them out on the next string change.

cbcarlisle - Posted - 07/29/2012:  20:04:31

Both Chris Sands and Nylgut are good strings for the price since I don't think 8 bucks for strings that will last for years is anything to complain about. I have a couple dozen fretless banjos that have different strings on them and my experience has been that the banjo will decide which ones sound best. I don't try to dictate the pitch either: the banjo tells me where it sounds best. Most of mine are lower - some Much lower (E, D, or C) - but some are high, especially the small gourdies. La Bella nylon strings are a hangover from the days when we didn't have anything else - except $40 real gut, when we could find them. They still have their uses (occasionally) but much better choices are available. (Some people swear by selected classical guitar strings.) Since I'm a finger picker I get a very different sound out of a string than a downpicker so your results may vary. I have no trouble having Nylguts holding pitch after the first hour or so of stretching but, then, I don't try to crank them up to "standard" pitch. If the banjo needs a heavier string I go with the Nylgut Minstrel or, even heavier, the Chris Sands heavies.

You Could go the traditional route and use screen door wire - anything after That would sound Great!

Bufo Bill - Posted - 07/30/2012:  11:33:06

Several members on the Polymer Strings group page use fishing line for strings. just think about how many strings sets you could get out of a few spools of that!
I have linked this thread to the group's link page, where there is lots of info and links on fishing line strings, and members who can answer any queries you may have on any Nylon string issues.

All the best from Bill. :D

john bange - Posted - 07/30/2012:  11:53:17

too right!  fishing line strings are great.  many weights up 100 lb test of clear nonofiliment in 1 lb spools...one spool of each and you will never buy strings again.

I use the .039 nylon Aquilla 4th string from their all nylon set but I could use the fishing line if I liked it better.

banjered - Posted - 07/30/2012:  12:43:07

I bought spools of fishing line as a back up. Between the criminal banksters and their equally criminal-enabling politician buddies hell-bent to destroy the economy (to say nothing of the hypnotized, stupified electorate), who knows how long any of these strings will be available? Prepare! X-tra strings/heads/whatever-banjo. Get your banjo ducks lined up in a row. Banjered